Hamilton Defends His Champagne Celebration after Criticism

SAKHIR, Bahrain (AP) — Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton has defended himself from the criticism surrounding his behavior at the Chinese Grand Prix, when he celebrated victory by spraying Champagne into the face of a podium hostess.

The British driver's behavior led to strong criticism on social media and at home.

The hostess, Liu Siying, a 22-year-old graduate of the Shanghai Institute of Visual Art who works for a real estate company, told the Shanghai Daily News on Wednesday that the incident has been blown out of proportion.

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